Given this was once a country of incorrigible baton-droppers, the British men’s relay team restored national pride in the most emphatic and improbable style last night with a gold medal to gatecrash Usain Bolt’s showpiece send-off. The juxtaposition of Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake jumping for joy as a tormented Bolt cursed a strained hamstring is one that will remain seared upon the minds of all who saw it.

Seldom has an evening of sport culminated in such an emotional maelstrom. Bolt must have played the script over in his head a dozen times: one more Saturday night gold, for old times’ sake, for the ultimate showman. Except the quartet of Mitchell-Blake, Chijindu Ujah, Adam Gemili and Daniel Talbot would have none of it. Running down the Americans in the closing strides, they produced Britain’s first 4 x 100 metres gold at world championships and the first ever by a host nation.

Bolt, prone and distraught on the track, was left to endure an exit as undignified as it was controversial. The finest champions are not defined by their last moments in the field of battle, but as heartbreakers go this was Donald Bradman’s duck at the Oval to the power of 100. It looked at first like the infernally-timed breakdown of his ageing legs, but each of Bolt’s team-mates argued that he had suffered a cramp brought on by unnecessary delays.

The man of the moment had been waiting interminably while the last medal ceremonies were conducted, which Yohan Blake claimed had contributed to cramp. “They were holding us too long in the call room,” Blake said. “Usain was really cold. In fact he said to me, ‘Yohan, this is crazy – 40 minutes and two medal presentations before our run. We kept warming up and waiting, and I think it got the better of us. We were over-warm.” Bolt, for his part, headed to the treatment room and left the scene without a word.

Chijindu Ujah, Adam Gemili, Daniel Talbot and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Great Britain celebrate winning gold in the Men’s 4×100 Relay final during day nine of the 16th IAAF World Athletics Championships London 2017 at The London Stadium on August 12, 2017 in London, United Kingdom

For four young British sprinters, however, this was a triumph of which they could scarcely have dreamt. The astonishment was writ large on their faces. Gemili was supposed to be the forgotten man of London 2017, not even selected for an individual event, and here he was a world champion. Mitchell-Blake had been in pieces barely 48 hours earlier, when he was squeezed out of a medal in the 200m by fractions, and now he was toasting an anchor leg to glory. Who was writing this material? Assuredly nobody Jamaican.

Amid febrile scenes at the Olympic Park, the British collective produced stunning individual efforts and seamless changeovers to thwart the US favourites in a time of 37.47 seconds, the fastest in the world this year and the quickest by a European since 1999. Mitchell-Blake had everything to do in bringing it home and yet he tore past Christian Coleman, the silver medallist, like a man possessed.

“The feeling of euphoria was from infinity,” Mitchell-Blake said. “I wasn’t sure if I had won or not. I gave it my all, but I could see Christian out of the corner of my eye. I can’t register it. We smashed the British record to pieces.”

Gemili’s smile, one sensed, would stay fixed in place for days. He has experienced his share of turmoil in these settings, not least when he missed out on 200m bronze in Rio last summer by one hundredth of a second, but this was the richest recompense. “It is so special to come back,” he said, shaking his head in wonder. “Crazy.”

Talbot explained that that the grim comedy of errors that characterised their display in this stadium at the London Olympics in 2012 had been a motivating factor. On that occasion, Britain did not even reach the final, after bungling the first changeover in the heat between Christian Malcolm and Dwai Chambers. Their determination to atone here was palpable.

For Bolt, the pain was too much for him to articulate initially. A loss to Justin Gatlin over 100m he could take, just about, but to suffer this ignominy in front of a crowd willing him to one more wondrous flourish was the cruellest twist. Julian Forte, his Jamaican team-mate, at least had the decency to try to balm the wounds, reflecting: “Usain kept apologising to us but we told him there was no need.”

Jamaica’s Usain Bolt falls to the track after sustaining an injury during the men’s 4x100m Relay final at the London 2017 IAAF World Championships in London, Britain, 12 August 2017Credit: EPA

On an unforgettable evening for relays, that symbol of athletic kinship, the British women’s line-up of Asha Philip, Desiree Henry, Dina Asher-Smith and Daryll Neita also weighed in with an unlikely silver, holding off Jamaica by a mere seven hundredths. Delirium coursed through them as they set off on their lap of honour. While bronze at the Olympics had been a watershed success, but was an accomplishment of a different magnitude from a team with an average age of 22.

Asher-Smith, who has recovered from a fracture to her right foot, said: “To upgrade from Olympic bronze to world silver with these girls has been absolutely incredible, and to do it at home means so much. We are so proud to win the medal in London.”

Hers was a sentiment that would echo long through the Stratford night, even if the pleasure of the unexpected was tempered by the manner of Bolt’s goodbye. It was hard not to suppress the thought, as he headed off to his life of unlimited Jamaican leisure, that he deserved better.

The moment none of us wanted to see

The studio team covering the championships suspect Bolt was undone by a hamstring injury in the closing stages of the 4x100m relay. He won’t leave these championships with many happy new memories, but undoubtedly retires as one of, if not, the greatest athlete of all time.

The look on his face…

Not how we pictured it

We were expecting gold for both Farah and Bolt, not a silver and a DNF – these unpredictable championships took another dramatic twist tonight. Thank god it’s only one day left, not sure my nerves could take more!

Countdown to Bolt’s final farewell

What is it?

It’s the 4x100m relay at the London 2017 World Championships. It will also be Usain Bolt‘s last race.

When is it?

It’s on Saturday August 12 – ie today!

What time will it start?

The men’s 4x100m final is due to begin at 9.50pm.

What TV channel is it on?

It will be on BBC One. Coverage of the evening session begins at 18.30, ending at 22.10 to take in the men’s relay.

‘No regrets’ for Usain Bolt after 100m final

01:29

What is the latest news?

Usain Bolt started the final countdown to his retirement by guiding Jamaica through to the 4x100m relay final this morning.

The eight-time Olympic champion anchored the squad to victory in the second heat.

Jamaica finished in 37.95 seconds – slower than Great Britain and the USA from the first heat – but will be expected to challenge for the podium in tonight’s final – Bolt’s last race of his career.

Great Britain – with Danny Talbot, Adam Gemili, Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake and CJ Ujah – qualified second behind the USA in 37.76secs in the first heat with Talbot hunting a medal.

“Definitely, that’s what we focus on, that’s what we want to do. It’s a great time to do it in front of a home crowd so hopefully we can do it this evening,” he told the crowd during a trackside interview.

The women’s squad of Dina Asher-Smith, Asha Philip, Desiree Henry and Daryll Neita qualified in a season’s best of 41.93 seconds by finishing second, also behind the USA.

Philip said: “We definitely embraced the opportunity. None of us competed here in 2012 so to have this crowd is breathtaking. They really carry you around over every changeover.”

What are they saying?

Usain Bolt

“For me it’s hard to be sad because of the energy I am getting from the crowd, I just feel happy and blessed.

“It’s been brilliant, the energy in the stadium is outstanding. I knew it was going to be like this, I appreciate you guys coming out and supporting not just me but the whole World Championships.”

What’s our prediction?

Jamaica won gold in Rio last summer and it’s difficult not to back Bolt to bow out on a high in London this time around.

GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands (CNS) — FIFA has banned its former vice president, Cayman Islander Jeffrey Webb, from football for life and will be issuing a fine in excess of US$1 million to the former president of both CIFA and CONCACAF.In a statement on Friday from the scandal-rocked global football body, the adjudicatory chamber of its ethics committee announced the immediate life-long ban of Webb from all official football activities and said he was guilty of numerous violations of FIFA’s rules and code of ethics.

Webb has already admitt

Jeffrey Webb, banned from football for life

ed a catalogue of criminal offences relating to fraud during his time as a football boss and is still under house arrest in the US awaiting sentencing in November.

The FIFA Ethics Committee began its own investigation into Webb’s offences last May following his high-profile arrest in Zürich with a number of other officials. Headed by Dr Cornel Borbély, the investigatory chamber of the Ethics Committee found that Webb had breached article 13, relating to the general rules of conduct and code of ethics at FIFA, article 15, which, deals with loyalty; article 18, covering the duty of disclosure, cooperation and reporting; article 19, dealing with conflicts of interest; and article 21, relating to bribery and corruption.

“In consequence, Mr Webb has been banned for life from all football related activities, administrative, sports or any other on a national and international

and fined CHF 1,000,000,” FIFA stated.

The latest blow to the discredited former local football hero is one of a number of problems that 51-year-old Webb still faces. Aside from waiting to hear his fate in the United States after pleading guilty to corruption and conspiracy charges there, he is also wanted in Cayman in connection to his involvement in a local hospital corruption case, for which his business partner, Canover Watson, is currently serving a seven-year sentence.

It is understood that, once Webb has been sentenced in the US, local authorities will begin seeking his extradition to the Cayman Islands.

Meanwhile, significant questions remain unanswered locally about how Cayman Islands Football Association (CIFA) funds were impacted by Webb’s activities as well as deals and financial transactions with the local association’s cash involving him and Watson, the former CIFA treasurer, and other CIFA officials that were described by auditors as “financial irregularities”.

Both FIFA and the Cayman Islands police Anti-Corruption Unit were said to be investigating CIFA but no questions raised during Watson’s trial or by local auditors have been addressed.

Muhammad Ali, the three-time heavyweight champion boxer whose electrifying prowess in the ring and controversial outspokenness outside of it made him one of the world’s most recognizable personalities of the 20th Century, died Friday after a battle with a respiratory illness. He was 74.

Ali, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s syndrome in 1984, died at a Phoenix hospital.

Ali family spokesperson Bob Gunnell said in a statement that Ali’s funeral will take place in his hometown of Louisville, Ky.

“The Ali family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers, and support and asks for privacy at this time.”

Reaction to Ali’s death immediately poured in on Twitter early Saturday from former boxing champions to celebrities and politicians.

See more at ESPN: http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/15939933/muhammad-ali-dies-74

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (26 May 2016) – Manchester United (MUTD) fans were united in celebration on May 21 as they gathered at watch parties hosted by the region’s leading quad-play provider, Flow, and witnessed the Red Devils hoist the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium after a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory over Crystal Palace. The story could not have been written better as the club’s historic twelfth FA title was showcased at Flow’s first-ever regional watch-party event – just months after the two organizations entered into a multi-year partnership.

From Turks and Caicos to Trinidad and islands in between, Flow customers were able to attend the viewing parties after successfully winning the Company’s “txt for a ticket” campaign. In each instance, numerous die-hard MUTD fans turned up decked out in their Manchester United colours, and not only had an opportunity to watch the pivotal match, but were also treated to plenty of cool giveaways, which included official MUTD gear and merchandise. Some fans were even lucky enough to win brand-new smartphones after winning the “Text the Score” competition that took place during the match. By all accounts, in each location, the energy and excitement was palpable, with many attendees expressing their desire to attend similar events in the future. Indeed, the responses in general were glowing with positivity; in Antigua, for example, local sports talk show host Joseph “JoJo” Apparicio commended Flow for its “great initiative” to bring sports fans together and provide them with an electric environment to watch the ultimate game of the season. Others expressed similar sentiments, including one Barbadian, Rasheed Holder, who praised Flow’s efforts for successfully organizing the event.

“Flow provided the perfect setting for what turned out to be the perfect match,” said Holder.

“The atmosphere was tremendous and the added elements that Flow provided made it all the more special. A big thank you to Flow for an awesome match day.”

Justin Luke – another attendee at the Barbados watch party – said he regularly uses the Flow Football App to tune into weekend games, but said, “having the opportunity to attend such an awesome watch party was great. The place was packed and I was happy to meet the Flow team who made sure we all enjoyed every minute of the match. Manchester United getting a late goal made it all the more special.”

Offering his congratulations to MUTD, on behalf of Flow, Managing Director of Flow Barbados, Niall Sheehy, had this to say:

“Huge congratulations to the folks at Manchester United for capturing yet another FA Cup title. This triumph was celebrated across the Caribbean and Flow is especially pleased to be bringing regional football fans that much closer to all the action.”

The watch-party initiative was a follow up to the exclusive, multi-year deal that Flow signed with MUTD earlier this year. This partnership offers Caribbean football fans real time updates and news via Red Alerts (the football club’s official SMS), as well as unique experiences like the chance to win tickets to MUTD games, signed merchandise and even interactions with MUTD legends such as club ambassadors Bryan Robson, Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke.

In addition to its deal with MUTD, Flow has formed other strategic partnerships to bring amazing sporting content to the region, including the Barclays Premier League and the upcoming 2016 Rio Olympic Games. By giving customers access to MUTD content and more “on the go” via mobile, tablets and desktop devices, as well as through the Flow ToGo app, Flow is the “Home of Sports in the Caribbean.”

Fans United in celebration of Manchester United’s big win as they lifted the FA Cup in the finals last Saturday. Flow hosted Viewing Parties around the region in more than 10 markets including Barbados, Trinidad, St. Vincent & the Grenadines among others. The excitement was palpable.

Published on June 1, 2016ST JOHN’S, Antigua — Prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, who is also chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) sub-committee on cricket, has said that “West Indies Cricket can become the most exciting and most valuable cricket product in the world.”

In an address on Tuesday, to mark the WICB’s 90th year of recognition by the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Antigua and Barbuda prime minister also stated, “I categorically reject the call for the dissolution of the West Indies Cricket Board, and I do so in my capacity as chairman of the committee governing West Indies Cricket. I believe firmly that to dissolve the board, would be to plunge West Indies cricket into further chaos and confusion.”

Asserting that governance could be an issue, the PM also asked that the board and other stakeholders take the necessary and appropriate actions to ensure that the governance framework is strengthened; that there is greater transparency and accountability; and the disputes/differences that will arise from time to time be managed much better than they are now.

He believes when the disputes end up in the public domain, it damages the image of the cricket product. He therefore urged the board to “create a more suitable dispute resolution mechanism in resolving the issues between the board and players going forward.

The prime minister in acknowledging and congratulating the various teams on the wins in the under 19, men’s and women’s categories so far this year, said these victories “should serve as a platform for greater unity for the board and players and for all stakeholders.”

Additionally, the prime minster announced that his government is in negotiation with the Stanford liquidator receiver to acquire the Stanford Cricket Ground, Sticky Wicket and other amenities in partnership with the WICB.

“The value of the investment is estimated at US$6 million and the government will underwrite up to 50 percent of that amount,” the PM noted.

The milestone was also recognized by the governor general, Sir Rodney Williams, who stated that cricket has created an evolution and revolution for the people of the region. He noted the radical changes in the game which took place and highlighted that the format changes were imminent and “there was more to come.”

WICB president, Dave Cameron was brief in his comments and provided a scorecard of the last month, hailing the renewal of the Digicel deal for another four years as an indication of the value of West Indies cricket to its sponsor partners.

The event culminated in a symbolic flag-raising with the flags of the region representing the six regions, the WICB and the national flag of Antigua and Barbuda.

The WICB is now in full swing for the start of the 2016 Tri-Nation one-day international which bowls off in Guyana on Friday, June 3. The teams along with the West Indies are Australia and South Africa and all ten matches are day/night.

The West Indies Women’s team ended three-time defending champions Australia’s domination by winning the World T20 title with an emphatic eight-wicket victory in the final at the Eden Gardens.The moment the West Indies reached the target courtesy an overthrow, the entire dugout jumped in joy as the team joined the two not out batswomen in the middle. What made the celebrations more special was the men’s team, led by captain Darren Sammy, bowling coach Curtley Ambrose and allrounder Andre Russell joined everyone in congratulating the girls.

Hayley Matthews and Stafanie Taylor fashion West Indies to their first World T20 triumph, Australia dethroned.

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West Indies women celebrate after beating Australia in the final at Eden Gardens on Sunday. (Source: AP)The DJ had turned on the Calypso. ‘Champions, champions’ blared out of the sound system. The West Indies women began the merry dance. Stafanie Taylor, Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin all celebrated joyously. The Caribbean women had earned every bit of it, after their convincing eight-wicket win over Australia in the women’s World T20 final. A world record 120-run opening partnership between Matthews and Taylor set up the chase, which became pretty facile in the end. It was West Indies’ maiden title, dethroning three-time defending champions. “When we wake up in the morning it’s going to be like is it real Trophy? I will ask myself is this real? When we touch down at the Caribbean, that’s when it’s going to hit you. A lot of people with cameras and you will realise that you have won the World Cup,” Taylor beamed.

The West Indies captain was named the Player of the Tournament for her 246 runs and eight wickets. But it was her younger team-mate who shone brighter at the Eden Gardens on Sunday. Matthews is just 18 years old who played for Hobart Hurricanes in the last season’s Women’s Big Bash League. At 103.17, she had one of the better strike-rates in the tournament. Today, it was imperative that she kept calm after a slow start. Only nine runs had been scored in the first three overs during West Indies’ chase. Also, a victory target of 149 had never been gunned down in the Women’s World T20 final before.

Matthews broke the shackles with a brace of fours off medium pacer Rene Farrell in the fourth over. It provided the launching-pad, for when Megan Schutt came in the next over, the West Indies opener tonked her for a big six over wide long-on. Her six off seamer Ellyse Perry was even bigger; about three rows back over the straight fence. Taylor joined the party with two fours off the same bowler. After 10 overs, the scores were level. Australia had 76/1, while West Indies got there without losing a wicket. The Aussies had slowed down thereafter, but West Indies built on the momentum.

Matthews got out after a scintillating 66 off 45 balls. But Taylor carried on before she was dismissed in the penultimate over, making a steady 59 off 57 deliveries. Back to back fours from Dottin earlier in that over had titled the balance in her side’s favour. Australia seemed to have given up. A superb yorker from Perry, however, made Britney Cooper a little nervy. She went for an improbable single in the next delivery but a clear run out opportunity was missed, a couple conceded, and the ‘Champion’ dance begun at the West Indies dug-out.

“We never discussed the total. It was good to keep wickets in hand. We wanted to do that; stay there and bat through,” Taylor said. Young Matthews spoke about the future. “Hope our women’s cricket grows from here on.”

Earlier, Australia won the toss and decided to bat on a very good surface. Alyssa Healy, Ian Healy’s niece, perished in the second over. But the team had been going strong, thanks to a 77-run second wicket partnership between Elyse Villani and skipper Meg Lanning. The former was brilliant for his 37-ball 52, but once she was dismissed in the 12th over, Australia started to lose tempo. Lanning tried to wrest the initiative by hitting three consecutive fours off Dottin, but as she departed, completing her half-century, the team started to struggle. Only one run was scored in the final over and two wickets fell as Australia finished about 15 short of the par score. “We needed 160-plus to set us up. We were heading into that. For such a good batting side, it was disappointing not to finish (the game),” Lanning admitted.

Coach Matt Morgan was gracious in defeat.””I”s a great advertisement for wome”s cricket (that big total has been chased). (We) would like to have 160, but being honest, it was a pretty comfortable chase in the end. They batted exceptionally well””

West Indies needed 19 runs in the 20th and final over which Brathwaite (34 not out) provided in style by smashing Ben Stokes for sixes off the first four balls.

Brathwaite ensured that hard work put in by Marlon Samuels, who struck 85 not out off 66 balls with nine fours and two sixes, did not go to waste, with Stokes appearing inconsolable at the end of the game.

West Indies finished on 161-6 in 19.4 overs after restricting England to 155-9, when Brathwaite took 3-23.

West Indies’ players rushed on to the ground to celebrate and then broke into an impromptu jig after becoming the first team to win the World Twenty20 title on two occasions, after success in 2012.

“It’s something we’ll cherish for a long time,” West Indian captain Darren Sammy said.

“Every game somebody stepped up. It was good to see Carlos play like that in his debut World Cup. It shows the T20 depth we have in the Caribbean.”

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It was a double delight for West Indies fans as their women’s team pulled off a surprise eight-wicket victory over Australia in the final played earlier.

Samuels, who had also starred with 78 in the 2012 final against Sri Lanka, was named man of the match for keeping the team in contention after they had been reduced to 11-3 in the third over.

Samuels added 75 runs off 69 balls for the fourth wicket with Dwayne Bravo (25) who also put up an allround effort having taken 3-37. For 2010 champion England, Joe Root produced an allround performance of 54 and 2-9, after being brought on to bowl at the beginning of the Windies’ innings.”We were certainly in the game, put ourselves in a position to win the game,” England captain Eoin Morgan said.

“We didn’t have enough runs on the board, it was a really good batting surface, maybe 180-90 would have been good.”

Root grabbed two wickets in the space of three deliveries as he dismissed both openers in the second over of the innings. Johnson Charles (1) was caught at mid-off and Chris Gayle (4) holed out to long-off as the move to use Root’s part-time off spin with the new ball paid off.

With pace bowler David Willey trapping Lendl Simmons LBW off the first ball he faced, West Indies needed another special innings from Samuels to complete a memorable win.

West Indies players wave to the crowd as they celebrate their win over England. Photo / AP

Earlier, Root added 61 off 40 deliveries with Jos Buttler (36) for the fourth wicket for England. Legspinner Samuel Badree took two early wickets. He got opener Jason Roy LBW without scoring off the second ball of the innings and then induced an edge from Morgan off a googly for Gayle to take the catch at slip.

England were reduced to 23-3 with Andre Russell dismissing opener Alex Hales (1). Buttler’s dismissal led to another slump as Brathwaite and Bravo proved effective in the latter half of the innings.

West Indies:161 for 6 (19.4 overs)

Commentary

19.4 SIX! Ben Stokes to Carlos Brathwaite. Half volley, down leg side backing away Slog, well timed in the air under control over deep mid wicket for 6 runs.

Wow! What incredible hitting from Brathwaite to hit four sixes in four balls to win the game for the West Indies. Needing 19 to win off the last over England were looking to likely winners until Brathwaite opened his shoulders and dispatched the ball to all parts of the ground. Samuels held the innings together with his 85 not out to get West Indies into a winning position and he will take all the plaudits.

David Willey bowled fantastically to get figures of 3-20 and the stroke of genius to open the bowling with Root payed off as he took two wicket including Gayle. England though could never get the big wicket of Samuels and the decision to bring him back after the catch was reversed was a huge turning point. West Indies have now been crowned men’s and women’s T20 champions in the same day.

19.3 SIX! Ben Stokes to Carlos Brathwaite. Half volley, off stump backing away Slog, well timed in the air under control over long off for 6 runs. What hitting from Brathwaite. He has hit three sixes in a row and West Indies now only need 1 to win. Absolute game changing innings from the big West Indian.

19.2 SIX! Ben Stokes to Carlos Brathwaite. Half volley, down leg side backing away Slog, well timed in the air under control over deep mid wicket for 6 runs. Stokes just misses his length and Brathwaite swings through the line for another six.

19.1 SIX! Ben Stokes to Carlos Brathwaite. Length ball, down leg side backing away Slog, well timed in the air under control over fine leg for 6 runs. A huge six from Brathwaite. Could he do it?

18.2 Chris Jordan to Marlon Samuels. Length ball, outside off stump backing away driving, to long off for 1 run, fielded by Root.

18.1 FOUR! Chris Jordan to Marlon Samuels. Length ball, outside off stump backing away driving, well timed past long off for 4 runs. Samuels once again goes over the fielder at mid off to good effectiveness.

Over 18. 11 runs. Bowler: David Willey. West Indies: 129/6 (rr 7.17)

17.6 FOUR! David Willey to Carlos Brathwaite. Full toss, to leg moves in front Scoop, well timed in the air under control past fine leg for 4 runs. Great improvisation from Brathwaite as he moves across and scoops the ball over fine leg.

17.5 David Willey to Marlon Samuels. Yorker, down leg side on the front foot pushing, to cover for 1 run, fielded by Root.

17.4 David Willey to Carlos Brathwaite. Length ball, down leg side on the front foot Slog, inside edge to short extra cover for 1 run, shy attempt by Willey.

17.3 David Willey to Carlos Brathwaite. Full toss, outside off stump on the front foot driving, in the air under control to long off for 2 runs, fielded by Ali.

17.2 David Willey to Marlon Samuels. Length ball, down leg side backing away Slog, hit pad to short extra cover for 1 run, fielded by Willey.

17.1 David Willey to Marlon Samuels. Full toss, middle stump on the front foot driving, to long off for 2 runs, fielded by Ali.

16.2 FOUR! Chris Jordan to Marlon Samuels. Length ball, outside off stump backing away driving, well timed in the air under control past long off for 4 runs. Brilliant batting from Samuels. He sees mid off up so he hits over the top.

16.1 Chris Jordan to Marlon Samuels. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, to cover for no runs, fielded by Morgan.

Over 16. 7 runs. Bowler: David Willey. West Indies: 111/6 (rr 6.94)

15.6 David Willey to Marlon Samuels. Off cutter length ball, down leg side on the back foot working, to square leg for 1 run, fielded by Rashid.

15.6 Wide David Willey to Marlon Samuels. Off cutter length ball, down leg side on the back foot working, missed to wicketkeeper for 1 run, fielded by Buttler.

15.5 David Willey to Marlon Samuels. Length ball, to leg on the back foot Late Cut, to deep backward point for 2 runs, run save by Hales, fielded by Root.

15.4 David Willey to Marlon Samuels. Length ball, down leg side on the back foot Steer, to slips for no runs, shy attempt by Plunkett.

15.3 OUT! Caught. David Willey to Darren Sammy. Length ball, middle stump on the front foot driving, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to deep cover, by Hales. England have two wickets in the over. This time Sammy goes over cover but he manages to pick out Hales on the boundary who didn’t need to move.

15.2 David Willey to Darren Sammy. Length ball, middle stump on the back foot cutting, to deep backward point for 2 runs, fielded by Hales.

15.2 Wide David Willey to Darren Sammy. Length ball, down leg side on the front foot working, missed to wicketkeeper for 1 run, fielded by Buttler.

15.1 OUT! Caught. David Willey to Andre Russell. Back of a length, to leg on the back foot pulling, well timed in the air under control to deep mid wicket, by Stokes. What a catch from Stokes on the boundary edge. He runs around and dives forward to get the vital wicket of Russell.

Over 15. 18 runs. Bowler: Liam Plunkett. West Indies: 104/4 (rr 6.93)

14.6 SIX! Liam Plunkett to Marlon Samuels. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot driving, well timed in the air under control over long off for 6 runs. Back to back sixes for Samuels. He gives himself a little bit of room and drills the ball back over the bowlers head.

14.5 SIX! Liam Plunkett to Marlon Samuels. Half volley, middle stump backing away Slog, well timed in the air under control over deep mid wicket for 6 runs.

14.4 Liam Plunkett to Andre Russell. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot Steer, to backward point for 1 run, run save by Roy, shy attempt by Roy.

14.3 Liam Plunkett to Andre Russell. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot defending, back to bowler for no runs, fielded by Plunkett.

14.1 FOUR! Liam Plunkett to Marlon Samuels. Short, outside off stump backing away pulling, well timed in the air under control past deep mid wicket for 4 runs.

Over 14. 10 runs. Bowler: Adil Rashid. West Indies: 86/4 (rr 6.14)

13.6 OUT! Caught. Adil Rashid to Dwayne Bravo. Googly length ball, outside off stump on the back foot Slog, top edge in the air uncontrolled to gully, by Root. Just the breakthrough England were after. Bravo tries to smash the ball out of the stadium but he gets a top edge which loops into the air.

13.3 SIX! Adil Rashid to Dwayne Bravo. Googly length ball, outside off stump on the front foot Slog, well timed in the air under control over deep mid wicket for 6 runs. Bravo picks the googly and dispatches the ball deep into the crowd.

12.4 Ben Stokes to Dwayne Bravo. Yorker, outside off stump on the front foot pushing, to cover for 1 run, fielded by Morgan.

12.3 FOUR! Ben Stokes to Dwayne Bravo. Off cutter short, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, top edge in the air uncontrolled past deep backward square leg for 4 runs. Bravo is living on the edge as his misdirected pull shot goes for four thanks to a dropped catch from the sub on the boundary.

12.2 Ben Stokes to Dwayne Bravo. Yorker, off stump on the front foot working, to mid on for no runs, fielded by Plunkett.

10.5 Ben Stokes to Marlon Samuels. Yorker, outside off stump no foot movement driving, missed to wicketkeeper for no runs, fielded by Buttler.

10.4 Ben Stokes to Dwayne Bravo. Full toss, off stump on the front foot flick, to deep square leg for 1 run, fielded by Hales.

10.3 Ben Stokes to Marlon Samuels. Leg cutter back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot pushing, to deep cover for 1 run, fielded by Willey.

10.3 Wide Ben Stokes to Marlon Samuels. Short, outside off stump no foot movement, Left to wicketkeeper for 1 run, fielded by Buttler.

10.2 Ben Stokes to Marlon Samuels. Length ball, outside off stump on the front foot pushing, back to bowler for no runs, fielded by Stokes.

10.1 FOUR! Ben Stokes to Marlon Samuels. Length ball, outside off stump on the back foot Late Cut, well timed past deep backward point for 4 runs. Just a bit of width from Stokes and Samuels opens up his body and carves the ball away.

West Indies’s Andre Russell celebrates after scoring the winning runs during the World T20 men’s semi-final match between India and West Indies at The Wankhede Cricket Stadium in Mumbai on March 31, 2016. (Photo: AFP)

MUMBAI, India (AFP) — The West Indies clinched their place in the final of the World Twenty20 on Thursday with a stunning seven-wicket victory over the hosts India at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium.

Lendl Simmons top-scored with an unbeaten 82 as the West Indies reached their target of 193 with two balls remaining.

They will now play England on Sunday in the final at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens, with both teams bidding to become the first sides to win the tournament twice.

Scoreboard from the World Twenty20 semi-final between India and West Indies at Mumbai’s Wankhede stadium on Thursday:

KINGSTON, Jamaica — January 25, 2016 – The West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) has congratulated Shivnarine Chanderpaul on a prosperous and illustrious international career that spanned more than two decades.

Shivnarine Chanderpaul

Former West Indies captain Chanderpaul is the only player of the modern game to represent the West Indies for over two decades. Presently, the 41-year-old is the highest ranked West Indian on the ICC Test Rankings. He also holds the record for batting the longest period without being dismissed in Test cricket.

During the almost 22 years of his career, he represented the West Indies 164 times in Test cricket, amassing 11,867 runs, with his highest score being 203 runs, at an average of 51.37. He represented the West Indies in 268 ODI matches scoring 8,778 runs, with a high score of 150, and an average of 41.60. In the shortest form of the game he played in 22 matches, scoring 343 runs at an average of 20.17.

Chanderpaul’s unorthodox batting style did not hinder his performances on the field of play, as he collected accolades throughout his career. Some of the awards he has received include being named one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year and ICC Player of the Year for 2008. He was also twice named West Indies Player of the Year, first in 2008 and then in 2014.

WIPA’s president and CEO Wavell Hinds, who played alongside Chanderpaul for the better part of a decade, said, “As a fan, to witness him play was to see a player of grit and determination. Having the honour of playing alongside him, I certainly saw a consummate professional who gave his all for West Indies cricket.”

He continued, “Shiv’s contribution to the game has been priceless and we wish him the utmost success in his future endeavours.”